Cover image via Mohd Rasfan/AFP & Steven Saphore/Anadolu Agency/AFP
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More than 61,000 Malaysians renounced their citizenship over the past five years, with women making up the majority of applicants, according to the National Registration Department (JPN)
Of the 61,116 Malaysians who renounced their citizenship, 35,356 were women, significantly outnumbering male applicants.
The most popular destination?
Singapore leads by a wide margin, accounting for 93.78% of renunciations, followed by Australia (2.15%), Brunei (0.97%), and other countries (3.1%).
National Registration Department director-general Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias.
Image via New Straits TimesThe data also revealed a clear age trend among applicants
Age breakdown of Malaysians renouncing citizenship:
31 to 40 years old: 19,287 (31.6%)
21 to 30 years old: 18,827 (30.8%)
41 to 50 years old: 14,126 (23.1%)
Above 50: 8,876 (14.5%)
While most Malaysians voluntarily renounce citizenship, some face revocation for holding a foreign nationality
JPN Director-General Datuk Badrul Hisham Alias noted that while voluntary renunciations are the norm, cases of citizenship revocation also occur, often involving Malaysians who acquire foreign citizenship and exercise associated privileges, such as voting, which Malaysia does not recognise under its Federal Constitution.
"The largest group applying to renounce citizenship falls within the 31 to 40 age bracket, with women representing the majority of applicants," he was quoted as saying.
The figures highlight a steady outflow of Malaysians, particularly young adults and women, underscoring broader questions about talent retention and the country's workforce composition in the years ahead.
